One of the sculptures set up for Bihar Divas at Gandhi Maidan. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Preparations at Gandhi Maidan, the main venue for Bihar Divas celebrations starting March 22, have entered the last lap. The three-day function will showcase the history and development of the state.

Bihar Divas marks the day when the British rulers carved out the state from Bengal Presidency in 1912.

The 12-lakh-sqft venue is being decked up in a grand way. The main entrance on the western end of Gandhi Maidan is inscribed with religious symbols and has miniature statues of all major religions, which portray communal harmony in the state. A replica of the Mahabodhi temple of Bodhgaya adorns the centre of the 65-ft-high and 150-ft-wide main gate, which has the tomb of Harmandir Sahib and a mosque on either sides.

Umesh Sharma, the architect who designed the gate, said: “The main entrance depicts the communal harmony in the state with representations of all major religions such as Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Christianity, Jainism and Buddhism.” Six statues of Yakshini (mythological divine nymph), Amrapali (royal courtesan during the Ashokan period), statues of Vishnu, Buddha, Mother Mary and Lakshmi are installed at the entrance gate.

After passing through the main entrance, one has to enter another gate, which is a replica of a tomb at Maner Sharif, an important Islamic site of 16th century that is located 25km west of Patna. Then comes a replica of Patna Museum, at the centre of which is a globe with over 300 birds made of steel, portraying peace and development in the state. At its centre is the Bihar logo.

The outer boundary walls of the museum have been decorated with Tikuli, Manjusha art and Madhubani paintings.

Sharma added that the Bihar logo had to portray the state’s belief in peace and harmony.

Chief minister Nitish Kumar and other dignitaries will inaugurate the Divas function from the 80x40ft main stage, the background of which is adorned by the centenary year celebration logo. The peepal leaf in the logo symbolises Lord Buddha. The main stage will have statues of Yakshini and Lord Buddha apart from installations of Ashoka Stambh and girls riding bicycles depicting the Mukhyamantri Balika Cycle Yojana.

Alok Jain, the brain behind the stage design, said: “The statues and symbolic re-presentations depict the sta-te’s history and development.”

Apart from the education department, there would be stalls of disaster management, health and other departments. The health department stall will focus on rural programmes. Statues of three women with raised hands symbolise anganwadi, Asha and the auxiliary nurse midwife schemes. Free medical check-up will be available at this stall on all three days.